ArtBUZZ: June 3-June 9, 2010

Opening: Saturday, June 5, 6-9pm

 

Patrick J. Campbell’s paintings depict miniaturized landscapes, containing Shaker inspired buildings and associated infrastructure, as well as natural elements such as rock forms, trees, and bodies of water. The commonplace elements are arranged into fanciful village scenes, reflecting the real world, while also defying it within the paintings’ own internal logic. Mr. Campbell employs trompe l’oeil to depict the scenes as contained in illusionistic shadow boxes, and uses deep framing to further create a sense of real depth.

 

The shadow box illusion conveys the rendered elements as real objects, an effect that is furthered by the inclusion of actual objects such as sprites and wood pieces, as well as perforations on the surface of the painting. This gives the paintings a sculptural quality, evocative of the of wunderkammer — German cabinets of curiosity — and bavelaar — Dutch miniature depictions of everyday life. Certain organic elements of the paintings — such as miniature rock forms that serve as landscape, and coral that serve as trees — are evocative of Chinese scholar’s stones.

 

Mr. Campbell’s worlds are miniaturized, contained, and abstracted, encouraging viewers to project their own interpretations. The already clean Shaker architecture is stripped down to its central forms, while the historical context of the various traditions and forms is alluded to, but not literally reproduced. The paintings invite participation, as they suggest dioramas that one could physically manipulate as well as the transformation of manmade or natural objects through imagination and vision into narrative scenes of personal meaning.

Opening: Thursday, June 3, 6:30-9pm

 

A group exhibition of new works by artists Miya Ando, Guy Stanley Philoche, and Rosa Ruey, curated in collaboration with Sandra Kamerman.

 

Three abstract artists. Three different mediums. Three distinct techniques. The three artists work in diverse ways: Miya Ando creates quiet, abstract, meditative environments by burning metal with fire. Guy Stanley Philoche paints a structural grid on canvas in many painterly layers of paint to contain ethereal, ephemeral worlds. Rosa Ruey creates an alternative reality filled with objects and whimsical machine-like structures while transforming energy into hopeful and playful systems, using paint, markers, and collage on paper. Together the pieces not only coexist but also suggest a different language form, a new conversation. A dialogue opens and a relationship begins.

 

 

275+ shows, 140+ buildings, three square miles, three days. Click HERE for map and artist directory.

 

Opening: June 4, 6-10pm (concurrent with Bushwick Open Studios)

 

An exhibition comprised of works on paper by most of the artists that have shown at Camel Art Space over the past year; a year in review if you will.

 

Artists that participate include: Adam Taye, Ben Needham, Ben Berlow, Sam Martineau, Sarah McDouglas Kohn, Chris McGee, Tiana Peterson, Lance Lankford, Peter Lapsley, Nick van Woert, Hilary Doyle, Maria Kondratiev, Julie Torres, Elisa Velazquez, Chris Martin, Maria Walker, Nora Griffin, Rachel Salamone, Carl Gunhouse, Christine Rogers, Thom Marquet, Lauren Portada, Catherine Stack, Matthew Murphy, Jeremy Roby, Chris Burnside, Nathan Gelgud, Alisa Ochoa, James Woodward, Enrico Gomez, Colm Feehan, Chris Rawson, Jessica Smith, Reid Hitt, Fred Spadafora, Connie Golden, Jeff Burdian, Helena Wurzel, Yuliya Lalina, Erin Shafkind, Brian Buckley, Millie Falcaro, Jeffrey Rothstein, Bryan Graf, Molly Lowe, Julia Colavita, Drew Wiedemann

 

Reception: Friday, June 4, 6-9pm

 

Rob List’s performance work has enjoyed a constant international presence since the early 1980s, despite the fact that his practice has remained particularly difficult to categorize.

 

The work has often been seen as both primitive and minimal, in that in most of Mr. List’s works he actively seeks to avoid the “representation of human experience,” wanting instead to create a “source of it.” With this stated intention, while technically his pieces involve elements or suggestions of minimalist theater, dance and mime, his energy is primarily invested in a reflection on the relationship between forms and the space they inhabit. In this way, Rob List’s performances seek to engage the spectator in a direct experience of the space they are sharing with the performer(s), free of representation or narrative, and concentrating simply on stimulating our awareness of physical presence and the fact that “the world exists because of our perception.”

 

 

Artist Reception: Thursday, June 3, 6-8:30pm

 

Renato D'Agostin's images are deeply rooted in the classic elements that make up the photographic medium. In his work, light and shadow are fused by extreme angles relaying a graphic, almost gritty composure. His images, while captured on the street are not about street photography. They are painterly abstracts, sketches of a place that is sometimes unrecognizable, recontextualized as shape, form and interaction, a push and pull between negative and positive spaces.

 

Opening: Thursday, June 3, 6-8pm

 

A magnified exploration of the honeybee and its anatomy as art. Ms. Fisher will be present to sign her newly published book by Princeton Architectural Press.

 

 

Opening: Sunday, June 6, 4-7pm

 

Hiroki Kobayashi has photographed the interior of the #1 Slave Theater on Fulton Street, that will shortly be demolished to make room for residential development.

In an effort to preserve the beautiful murals and paintings on the walls, Kobayashi has documented this old theater, where generations of kids saw their first movies and where black activists held their meetings.